The advanced academies on the continent, when counted carefully, amounted to no more than three types: one was directly under official administration, like a towering hall that stood unshaken; one was jointly run by officials and civilians, building an academy together to mutual benefit; and the last was purely privately run, like a breeze through the forest, free and unrestrained.
The "private" here absolutely did not refer to ordinary people, but to civilian forces of fairly considerable strength.
In civilian society, there were numerous powerful clans and great families, sects stood in abundance, societies flourished, gangs gathered in droves, Martial Businessmen rose side by side, and so on. Those capable of taking charge of an academy were all leaders among them.
Chang'an Academy, for instance, was a purely official academy, one of the five great provincial academies.
However, within this academy, the Power Landscape was rather subtle.
Relying on their deep foundations and extensive connections, the Aristocratic Family Faction occupied roughly one-third of the real positions of power. They were deeply rooted and widely branched, and their influence could not be underestimated.
As for the officially supported commoner Academy Faction, it relied on government backing and the support of the "commoners" to firmly occupy half the territory.
As for the highest-level posts—the vice dean level—they were firmly held by the Three Elders of Chang'an, those three highly respected seniors.
Only the remaining positions were left for the other minor factions to divide among themselves.
This arrangement did not change until Chen Cong arrived, allowing members of the Aristocratic Family Faction finally to squeeze into the highest ranks.
Generally speaking, these directly administered academies were powerful. In Fasinuo Province, there were only three: Chang'an Academy, Canghui Academy, and Siyue Academy. They were like three brilliant stars, illuminating the province's educational sky.